The Village Times Herald - December 1, 2022

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Louise Beyer

Louise Beyer, 80, passed away at her home in Granville, New York, on Oct. 24, after a long illness.

teacher in the Three Village schools.

They lived in Wading River until he retired in 1994.

She was born on Sept. 12, 1942, to Charles Shayler “Shy” Smyrk and Angeline “Angie” Ryon Smyrk in Flushing, Queens. From them she learned to love unselfishly, to look for the good in others and to enjoy good food, good lyrics and threepart harmony.

OBITUARY

She attended St. Andrew’s Grammar School in Flushing and Dominican Academy in Manhattan. When Shy’s work took them to New England for two years, she studied at Marian High School in Framingham, Massachusetts, where she formed a singing group, whose three-part harmony delighted listeners throughout the region. Back in New York two years later, she graduated from The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica, attended business school in Manhattan and then worked for the New York Bell Telephone Company.

She married Walter Keeley, and they raised Christine and Douglas in Stony Brook and East Setauket. With Walter’s encouragement, Louise performed in many Carriage House Players productions, including “Brigadoon,” “South Pacific” (Bloody Mary), “Fiddler on the Roof” (Yenta, the matchmaker), and “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.”

She worked as a legal secretary for George Bohling and Ann Coates and then as a staff member of the Three Village Herald. Walter succumbed to multiple sclerosis in 1987.

In 1991 she married Peter Beyer, an English

In 2002, Louise and Peter moved upstate, first to Hartford, then to Hampton and finally to Granville, on the border of Vermont.

She loved what the area offered — fresh air, clear blue skies and brilliant fall colors. In 2012, Louise reprised her role as Yenta, the matchmaker, when she brought together Doug Boucher of Hartford and Zoe Cary of Salem.

Friends said of her: “She never met a man or a house she couldn’t improve.”

Louise was predeceased by her parents and her brother Donald. She is survived by her husband, Peter; her brother Edward Rodney Smyrk and his wife Frances of Vero Beach, Florida; her daughter Christine of Port Jefferson; her son Douglas and his wife Janolyn and their children Shane and Shaelyn of East Setauket; stepson Thomas Beyer of Somerville, Massachusetts; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Louise’s family wishes to thank Glens Falls Hospital oncologist Darci Gaiotti-Grubbs and her assistant Nikole Slowick, neurologist Jonathan Braiman and his assistant Ruth Fish, and nephrologist Amy Hogan-Moulton, as well as the ICU and oncology staffs for their caring concern and their professionalism.

Small Business Saturday offers vital support for local downtowns

BY RITA J. EGAN & RAYMOND JANIS RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM; EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Residents of communities throughout the area came out on Saturday, Nov. 26, to support local downtowns during Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday was a campaign first developed by American Express in 2010. Martin Cantor, director of the Long Island Center for Socio-Economic Policy, detailed the history and purpose of this effort.

“Because everybody was focusing on Black Friday, American Express wanted to focus on small businesses,” he said.

Mary Joy Pipe, owner of The East End Shirt Company and president of the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, described this year’s iteration of Small Business Saturday as a success. She forecasts a favorable holiday season for the small business community this year based on the turnout.

“Am I optimistic about how I did on Small Business Saturday and over that weekend, and that things should go well?” she said. “Yes.”

The success of these business initiatives, according to Pipe, is primarily contingent upon the weather. She characterized the clear skies on Friday and Saturday as fortunate for the business community.

Tandy Jeckel, owner of TandyWear in Commack, said Small Business Saturday was similar to last year saleswise but that Black Friday was better.

Black Friday “was major,” she said. “We beat last year. Small Business Saturday was pretty much the same as last year.”

Confronting difficult times

While some storefront owners saw favorable returns over the weekend, others discussed the several factors working against their businesses. Among these are nationwide economic instability and inflation, soaring prices and hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeckel said her business did well during the pandemic by making masks to match outfits and so drawing in customers. She added she had noticed customers opting for dressier outfits where people were looking for more comfortable loungewear for a while.

Joe Schwab, co-owner of Schwab’s 2nd Wind in East Setauket, said he didn’t experience an increase in traffic on Small Business Saturday. He said that the special shopping days did not necessarily boost sales, even though Black Friday was better this year than it has been in years past.

“I would love to have a big excitement about shopping days again, but for the time being it seems to be a bit lost or fizzled out,” he said.

Cantor maintains that the broader economic trends are squeezing small businesses and local downtowns. Ballooning costs associated with energy prices, rents and wages are making it harder for small businesses to stay profitable. At the same time, consumers have less discretionary income and, therefore, less

to spend in these downtown settings.

“Right now, small businesses are caught between trying to recoup the high rents, energy costs and things like that,” he said. “And then they’re running into the competition and the fact that consumers don’t have the money to spend.”

Competing with big businesses

Inflation and other economic pressures are driving consumers to try to stretch their dollars, Cantor said. This is adding even greater strain on small businesses compared to big businesses.

“The reality is that these big businesses can buy goods and services at much cheaper prices, and consumers are certainly looking for bargains,” he said.

Despite this popular narrative, Patty Kaczmarczyk, owner of Cheese & Spice Market in Wading River, insists that her prices are competitive and often outperform her larger competitors.

“People sometimes feel, ‘I’m going to go to the supermarket where I can get things cheaper there,’ but now that’s not so true,” she said. “I’m a small business, so I’m trying not to kill people in pricing to stay very competitive. That’s my goal.”

Contrasting the business models of large and small businesses, Kaczmarczyk said smaller stores are better adapted to meet the needs of consumers. Whereas large retailers emphasize bulk purchases, she said small vendors allow for smaller, often cheaper orders.

“I carry so many loose spices, which are way cheaper than buying them in a grocery store,” she said. “I sell it loose, and you can buy smaller amounts.” Maximizing these advantages, she suggests, can keep small businesses afloat while competing against their larger counterparts.

Susannah Meinersman, owner of Huntington-based Bon Bons Chocolatier, said the store has been busy in general, which she attributes to making a great product. Meinersman said she appreciates Small Business Saturday: “I think the day brings awareness to the small Main Street business, so that’s a good thing.”

Giving back to the community

David Wolmetz is co-owner of Urban Air Adventure Park in Lake Grove. He described the small business sector as an extension of the greater community. Through various interactions of small businesses with community members, he said these businesses foster a greater sense of local cohesion.

“It’s not only about money for us,” he said. “It’s about connecting to the community.”

For example, Wolmetz sits on the board of the Stony Brook Cancer Center Community Advisory Council. Maintaining connections between small businesses and other local institutions is crucial, Wolmetz said, for community prosperity.

“We look for them: Girl Scouts, Boys Scouts, anything that’s related to our demographic of a youth, family oriented connection,” he said. “I’m very familiar with that connection, and that’s my reason for having the business.”

This connection will be imperative as businesses transition into the post-pandemic era. For Suzanne McEnroe, owner of This n’ That Gifts in St. James, the turnout on Saturday was encouraging.

She said she appreciates resident support as the business owner opened the gift store in February 2020, just a few weeks before the COVID-19 shutdowns. She is grateful to be open.

In general, she noticed a difference in business this year with more people out shopping. “They love to have a town shop to be able to just come and get a quick gift,” she said.

A critical juncture

While Small Business Saturday primarily targets the retail and service sectors, Long Island’s regional economy consists of small businesses across many other industries.

John Hill is the founder and CEO of the Long Island Advancement of Small Business, an organization committed to the growth and development of small businesses that do not interface with customers, such as financial planners, bankers and IT service providers, among others.

Hill contends that these small businesses are struggling, too. “They’re not growing, they’re not failing, they’re just eking out a living right now,” he said.

Given the high living costs on Long Island, Hill sees more small business owners closing up shop and heading to more affordable regions in the country, a startling trend for Long Island’s regional economy.

“We’ve had four people leave our organization to move off of Long Island,” he said. “Two moved to Florida, one to North Carolina and one to Tennessee.”

To stay afloat, Cantor suggests business owners will soon have to find creative ways to attract consumers to downtown areas while eliminating operating expenses.

“Businesses are at a critical juncture,” he said, noting that Small Business Saturday is “super.” He added, “We want all these small businesses to survive, and it’s great that Long Islanders are coming out to the downtowns to shop on Small Business Saturday. But they have to continue to do it.”

Rising energy prices, rents and wages are all applying greater pressure on small business owners. Pictured above, storefronts in downtown Port Jefferson. File photo by Julianne Mosher

Councilman LaValle and Di Santo go head-tohead in Brookhaven clerk special election

BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

In a race to fill former Brookhaven Town Clerk Donna Lent’s (I) seat, Town of Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden) will square off against community advocate Lisa Di Santo, of East Patchogue.

Lent announced her retirement last month, vacating her seat and triggering a special election for her expired term ending in 2025. [See story, “Brookhaven’s town clerk retires from public service,” TBR News Media, Nov. 24.]

Both candidates were chosen unanimously by their respective parties during separate nominating conferences last week. In phone interviews with TBR News Media, the candidates discussed their professional backgrounds, reasons for pursuing the office of clerk and plans for the future.

Before entering elected office, LaValle, a lifelong Brookhaven resident, owned a title agency, assisting prospective homebuyers with vital records, such as liens, deeds and similar documents. He then transitioned into the mortgage business, where he still works today.

In 2013, LaValle campaigned successfully to represent Brookhaven’s 3rd Council District, an office he has held ever since.

“Why I’m making this run for town clerk, I think it’s [because] we see in the paper every day with what just happened with Suffolk County, the hack that happened,” he said. “You can see very clearly that that’s something we don’t want to happen in Brookhaven. Managing people’s personal records is critical to our county and our township.”

Di Santo is a 50-year resident of Brookhaven whose background is in community advocacy. Before running for office, she was a social studies teacher, served as vice president of the Bellport Area Community Action Committee, and for over a decade was a trustee on the South Country Central School District Board of Education.

In her interview, she emphasized the need for citizens to have a stake in their local government and connect to the democratic process.

“When looking at the way the town functions, the town clerk plays a very important role in the accessibility of good government, accountability of good government and the security that’s necessary in good government,” she said. “In all of those three areas, I currently see that the town fails miserably.”

The Democratic candidate added, “I’m running because I do believe wholeheartedly that the town clerk, especially now, needs to be an independent person and an independent voice to

be certain that there is truly open government in Brookhaven Town.”

For LaValle, the protection of residents’ sensitive information is paramount. Like Di Santo’s proposal, he said he intends to promote efficiency and expand resident access to their records and to the office of clerk.

“We have to make sure records are secure, but we want to increase access,” the town councilman said. “We want to be able to have people with disabilities not have to come up to Town Hall to get handicap parking passes, and what have you.”

He added, “We have to increase our internet capabilities to be able to service residents’ needs without making them have to come to Town Hall. And certainly, we have to work to increase the transparency within the government.”

LaValle contends that town clerk is a technically demanding position to learn and to hold. However, he maintains that his professional training within the public and private sector have prepared him in unique ways for the demands of the office.

“I believe that I have the ability and the experience to be able to do this job effectively, managing an over-30-person staff, and making sure residents are taken care of as we move forward,” he said.

On the whole, Di Santo viewed Brookhaven as failing in its obligations to promote open government. She cited the Freedom of Information Law request process as needing reform.

“You’d be hard to find an individual who has taken the time to participate in Brookhaven Town government who would tell you that the FOIL process is one of accessibility and accountability, and there’s a serious problem there,” she said. “If a citizen, a taxpayer, can’t access information, then how can the government represent those people?”

Di Santo said her campaign rests on the notion that quality governance requires informed and engaged citizenship. Given her advocacy background, she considered herself uniquely suited to this task.

If elected, Di Santo said she intends to begin by reforming the scheduling of open meetings to bolster public participation.

“When government continues to schedule meetings that are inaccessible to people, they’re sending a message that they do not want to have a democracy,” she said. “You can’t have a democracy without the participation of the people.”

Brookhaven residents will get the final word on these two candidates during a townwide special election on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Pictured above, Lisa Di Santo and Town of Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden). Left from Di Santo’s Facebook page; right from the town website

a video of the event which can be viewed online at www.tbrnewsmedia. com/police/.

Man arrested for making fake 911 calls

On Nov. 21, Suffolk County Police arrested a Coram man who made multiple false 911 calls over a two-year span. Andrew Welcom made a 911 call on Aug. 18, reporting a woman had been assaulted and any law enforcement officer that attempted to enter a Lake Ronkonkoma home to help her would be shot. Police responded to the location and found no one in the home was in danger and there were no problems at the house.

As a result of the incident, the Fourth Precinct Crime Section investigated similar incidents and located four additional 911 calls dating back to November 2020 that could be traced to Welcom. The calls all reported a suspicious person or crime and all were determined to be unfounded. During at least one of the phone calls, Welcom identified himself as a New York City Police officer. Following an investigation, Welcom, 34, was arrested and charged with five counts of Falsely Reporting an Incident and two counts of Criminal Impersonation.

Woman arrested for leaving child in car

Suffolk County Police arrested a Huntington Station woman on Nov. 19 after she allegedly left her 4-year-old daughter unattended in a vehicle in cold weather. Second Precinct police

officers responded to a 911 call regarding a child unattended, restrained in a safety seat in a vehicle in the parking lot of 711 East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station at approximately 6:45 p.m. The child was alone in the vehicle, a 2021 Toyota, and the engine was not running. Responding officers located the child’s mother, Maricela Avila, and the child was removed from the vehicle. The child was evaluated at the scene. Avila, 31, of Huntington Station, was arrested and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Commack man suffers medical emergency, drives off dock

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating an incident during which a man died after driving his vehicle into the water in Bay Shore on Nov. 22. Robert Lancaster was operating a Nissan Rogue at the Maple Avenue dock when he suffered an apparent medical emergency and drove into the water at approximately 6:50 a.m. Lancaster, 39, of Commack, was pulled from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police:

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Three people wanted for damaging property in Port Jefferson Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Sixth Precinct Police Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify three juveniles who allegedly damaged property in the Village of Port Jefferson in July. Three males were walking on East Main Street when they allegedly ripped out plants from a planter box and then knocked over a different planter box causing damage, in front of 234 East Main Street, on July 4 at approximately 3 a.m. The police have recently released

Do you recognize

Check in with each other, yourself before approaching holidays, local doctors urge

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

An important gift people can give each other this holiday season is a check-in call or visit.

HEALTH

That’s the advice of area mental health professionals, who say that the holidays in general can be stressful and that several factors, including grieving over the loss of family or friends, fear about ongoing health concerns, and uncertainty and overall anxiety, have created stressors to mental health.

“If you know someone is having a rough time, who will be without a loved one for the holidays, you can call and say, ‘I’m here,’” said Dr. Stacy Eagle, director of Psychiatry at Port Jefferson-based St. Charles Hospital. “Doing something that simple can be really helpful.”

Indeed, area mental health professionals said the health care system in general has been straining to meet the need for patients in a host of ages to provide timely services.

Signs

Dr. Adam Gonzalez, a licensed clinical psychologist, director of Behavioral Health at Stony Brook Medicine and founding director of the Stony Brook University Mind-Body Clinical Research Center at the Renaissance School of Medicine, suggested that people can look for signs among their friends, family members and coworkers.

“Be aware of behavioral and emotional changes like social withdrawal, increased alcohol or drug use, overeating/eating more unhealthy food, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, difficulty with getting work done” irritability and sadness, Gonzalez explained in an email.

Broadly speaking, Eagle added that people should be aware of any change in normal functioning. An extrovert who is acting withdrawn can provide a clue about a daily struggle.

Solutions

When people notice these kinds of changes in themselves or others, doctors urged a host of responses, depending on the severity of the symptom.

People who are an imminent danger to themselves or to others can call 988, which is a suicide and crisis hotline phone number. They can also call 911 or go to an emergency room, where a psychiatrist can evaluate them and offer help.

Cari Faith Besserman, director in the Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services with the Suffolk County Department of Health, said residents can take classes such as Mental Health First Aid, which teaches laypeople to increase their awareness by recognizing signs of emotional and mental distress, how to respond safely, and educates on symptoms of illness to decrease the stigma and mystery of mental health and various stages of wellness.

Suffolk County residents also can turn to the Diagnostic Assessment and Stabilization Hub, also known as DASH, program, which provides 24/7 access to behavioral health professionals and provides somewhere to go for those experiencing a crisis. The DASH number is 631-952-3333.

For less severe but problematic or ongoing symptoms, doctors urged some restorative measures.

Eagle suggested getting proper rest, ensuring a sufficient and balanced diet and staying hydrated. Activities such as exercise, which helps increase the release of serotonin, can help reduce anxiety and improve mood.

She added that unplugging from social media, especially for adolescents and children, can improve overall mental health.

Gonzalez also urged those who are offering support to remain fully present and nonjudgmental, and listen actively when someone shares concerns or anxieties.

“Be sure to ask what they need from you,” Gonzalez urged. “For some, it may be just listening; for others, it may be advice/ feedback or helping to connect them to professional support services. It’s easy for many to slip into problem-solving mode; however, sometimes others just want to be heard and validated.”

Gonzalez added that group-based treatments are just as effective as individual

therapy and encouraged patients to try skillsbased groups to learn coping methods for managing stress, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Stony Brook offers a COVID-19 support group for people who have or have had COVID, especially those with long COVID symptoms. Stony Brook also offers a comprehensive mind-body treatment program called the Stress Management and Resilience Training program.

The SMART program is helpful for people who are managing co-occurring mental and physical health problems and for those who would like to enhance their overall resilience.

Overwhelming demand

On the whole, hospitals and mental health facilities are struggling to keep up with the need for help.

“Currently, the demand for psychotherapy services is overwhelming,” Gonzalez explained in an email.

Eagle added that the weeks leading up to the holidays have often been a stressful period.

This year, some groups in particular are struggling. Parents of children born in 2022 are especially concerned about respiratory syncytial virus, which is “higher than normal,” Eagle said.

Seasonal affective disorder, which occurs during the darker, colder winter months, also affects about 0.5 to 3% of the population, Eagle said.

SAD can be harder for people if they have depression or anxiety, Eagle said. “These things are definitely an issue.”

Doctors added that those who are grieving over a loss can find the holidays difficult.

“Grief can be more of an issue” around the holidays, Eagle said.

Eagle urges the continuation of traditions that families found meaningful and helpful.

Gonzalez added that people can cope with grief by keeping a picture of a person who is no longer present close by, offering a prayer in their honor, sharing positive memories, or writing them a note.

Grieving families can also consider starting new traditions that may help them move forward with their lives, Eagle suggested.

Good news

Even amid all the concerns this year, doctors said people can appreciate some good news.

“Happily, we are out of the severe hospitalizations for COVID,” Eagle said.

Communities can also celebrate resilience “as individuals and as a country,” she added.

In hospitals, visitors are able to offer comfort and spend quality time with their friends and family, which is a considerable improvement from the days when patients couldn’t have visitors.

Eagle said she is following her own advice with her friends and family.

She will try to reach out to those she knows have had a particularly bad time this year to “make sure that they are aware that someone is thinking about them,” she said.

The holiday season can be a difficult time for many people, especially for those who lost a loved one recently. Stock photo

Daughter inspires local singer to live her dreams

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

For one North Shore singer, an injury and her 13-year-old daughter have led her on a path she has dreamed about for years.

Growing up in Montreal, Canada, Robbie Harte wanted to become a singer-songwriter. However, her goal was put on hold when an accident 14 years ago caused a back and spine injury that left her in chronic pain and unable to sing.

“It affected every part of me,” Harte said.

She added the best way to describe the issue to people is to imagine throbbing tooth pain from the waist to the toes all day, where sitting, standing or lying down doesn’t relieve the pain. It was so overwhelming that it was difficult for her to take in the breaths she needed to hold notes.

The Canadian was already living in Suffolk County when the accident occurred. She had met her husband during a trip to Hawaii. She worked for an airline and planned to go to Paris to write. Last minute Harte said she felt she shouldn’t go to France and opted to go to Hawaii, a place she was familiar with from visiting a couple of times. One morning while sitting in a coffee shop, she saw him run by, and then he was inside the shop a little while later. He stopped by her table to talk to her while she was writing about a couple meeting

In her song “Out of the Blue,” she recounts the meeting saying she “traded Paris in for paradise.”

They began a long-distance relationship, with the two traveling between Canada and Smithtown, where he lived at the time. Shortly after she moved to Suffolk County, they married. Soon after she became pregnant with her daughter, she was injured.

“It was such a happy time for us, then I was sidelined,” Harte said. “It wasn’t just that I was sidelined — I was sidelined and silenced.”

She added that she navigated sad times in the past by expressing herself through music. Harte said at first, she accepted this was the way it was, but she started realizing she wasn’t herself.

After her daughter was diagnosed with autism when she was 7, Harte wanted to show her child that a medical diagnosis shouldn’t stop her from pursuing her dreams.

“She’s the driving force that I’m on this journey,” the singer said. “She is the reason I’m pursuing my dream. She’s the reason that I’m doing all of this.”

Harte remembered the day she and her husband told their daughter about the autism diagnosis. She said they explained that sometimes things may be more challenging for her than others, but she shouldn’t let it get in the way of living her dreams. Harte said that conversation catapulted her to start pursuing her own goals.

“Here I was sitting on the couch, curled up in a ball, not living my dream because I couldn’t do it anymore, and things were really hard for me,” she said. “I said, ‘You know, I can’t tell her that and not put action behind my words. I have to show her by example, by being the best possible role model I can.’ That was the moment that I really decided this is my dream.”

Harte decided to put everything into singing despite how difficult or uncomfortable it was at first. The singer, who taught herself to play guitar, released her first EP in 2020 and has been enjoying musical success with her country/pop songs ever since. She has won and been nominated for several awards. Recently, she won the Gold Songwriter of the Year award and Bronze Single of the Year award for “Outside My Window” from the International SingerSongwriters Association.

A few weeks ago, Harte released the single “Reason to Rise.” She described the song as an “anthemic power ballad.” The single has received airplay all over the globe and has landed on Canadian, country and indie music charts.

The journey has taught Harte a lot about herself and her strengths, she said. Initially, she was afraid she would never be able to get on a stage because she uses a cane regularly. However, she decided she would hold on to whatever else she needed, whether it was a curtain or microphone stand.

“You can’t let any of these things stop you

because they’re just details,” Harte said. The wife and mother also had advice when it comes to balancing various responsibilities and demands that parents face when juggling their own and their children’s obligations. She said the key is not to let everything overwhelm a parent, and she feels it’s important to make time for oneself. Harte said it’s vital to have a release such as singing, a hobby or playing a sport.

“If you don’t have that, you can’t give to other people,” she said. “You need to be in a positive mindset, and you need to have a

few minutes — even if it’s 15 minutes — to do something that you love, so that you’re grounded, so that you can give your best to the people around you.”

Harte said she hopes to use her platform “to uplift, inspire and empower people” and to encourage them to let nothing stop them from doing what they love.

“I want to remind people to go out there and pursue their dreams and do what they love, despite their age, their ability or their limitations.”

For more information, visit robbieharte.com.

Singer-songwriter Robbie Harte, above, won two awards at the 2022 International Singer-Songwriters Association awards ceremony. Below, Harte said she was inspired to pursue her goals despite chronic pain to show her daughter, below right, that obstacles shouldn’t get in the way of dreams. Photos from Robbie Harte

Farmingdale Dalers derail Patriots

BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Ward Melville football’s journey to the Long Island Championship game was an unlikely one, where the Patriots concluded their regular season with a 5-3 record, then peaked in post-season play.

Ward Melville picked off Whitman in the opening round of the playoffs, took down previously unbeaten William Floyd, 14-7, Nov. 12 and eliminated Longwood a week later for their first Suffolk County Championship in 35 years.

The Patriots in uncharted territory looked to make history at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium Saturday, Nov. 26, where they faced the Dalers of Farmingdale (11-0) in the Long

Island Championship game.

In the opening minute of the second period, Ward Melville quarterback Andrew Belli hit Brody Morgan on a diving touchdown catch covering 35 yards to make it a one score game, but Farmingdale surged ahead to take a 28-14 lead into the halftime break.

After two unanswered Farmingdale touchdowns, Belli punched in on short yardage for the score but it was too little too late as the Patriots fell to Farmingdale, 42-20.

Pictured clockwise from above, Ward Melville senior running back Nick Gaffney grinds out extra yardage; Patriots senior wide receiver Trevor Murry after the catch turns upfield; and Ward Melville wide receiver Brody Morgan looks for extra yardage.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Walter Charles Hazlitt, of Stony Brook, passed away on Nov. 27. He would have celebrated his 97th birthday on Dec. 2.

OBITUARY

Born in Brooklyn, Walter was a World War II veteran, who served in the Marines from 1944-46. He was also a retired Brookhaven Town Republican Committee chairman. According to a statement from the Suffolk County Republican Committee, Walter was a former Suffolk County legislator in the 5th District “and helped advance the industry-recognized services provided by the Suffolk County Water Authority.”

Walter served 62 years with Stony Brook Fire Department. A former chief, he was an active commissioner serving since 1999.

Nicholas Simonsen, 3rd assistant chief, described Walter as “a man for the community,” and said everybody with the fire department will miss him.

“He was definitely a patriarch of the department,” Simonsen said. “He set the example for many, and he was overall a great man — he

In 2016, he was honored by U.S. Congress “for service to his country and community,” and also received the Brookhaven Community Leadership Award. He was on the board of Suffolk County Community College for many years.

Walter was the beloved husband of Elizabeth, who predeceased him in 2020. The two were married for 67 years and first met at Stony Brook Yacht Club, where Walter was a member for 75 years.

His sister Marcella and brother Arthur also predeceased him. He leaves behind his children Walter Hazlitt and Elizabeth Emerson and four grandchildren.

Arrangements were entrusted to Bryant Funeral Home in East Setauket. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 2 to 5 p.m. A firematic service will be held at 8 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the funeral home, and Stony Brook Yacht Club will hold a service on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will take place at St. James R.C. Church in Setauket on Monday, Dec. 5, at 10:45 a.m. Burial to follow in the churchyard cemetery.

Automobiles/Trucks Vans/Rec Vehicles

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Health, Fitness & Beauty

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Musical Instruments

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Auto Services

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Financial Services

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Schools/Instruction/ Tutoring

PIANO-GUITAR-BASS All ages-levels-styles. Manylocalreferences. Recommendedbyallarea schools.TonyMann, 631-473-3443,631-332-6005

2ROOMAIRCONDITIONERS 5000 BTU,$25each, 631-413-6549.

2WROUGHTIRON planter stands$50.00 631-689-9309

FLUORESCENTSHOP

FIXTURE 4foot,2bulb Asking$20.00Call 631-744-3722

INTERMATIC RAIN TIGHT OUTDOOR TIMER, Heavy duty, 15 Amp/24 hour $10 631-941-4425.

SNOWSHOVELS$10each Call 631-941-4202. LeaveMessage.

TREESTANDforlivetree 8 inchdiameter$10 Call631-941-4202 LeaveMessage.

Housesitting Services

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Need someonetocheckonyour home?

ContactTenderLovingPet Care,LLC.We’remorethanjust pets.Insured/Bonded. 631-675-1938

Miscellaneous

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Finds Under 50 American Made Family Owned Award Winning

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Hearing Aids Starti ng at $799 Terms and conditions apply. Discount based on MSRP. Offer valid 10/1/22-12/31/22 at participating locations only on qualifying purchases. Jabra Enhance Plus not eligible for the discount. See locations for details. Benefits of hearing instruments may vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing evaluation and proper fit. Cannot be combined with any other promotions or discounts.

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Help Wanted

PUBLISHER’S EMPLOYMENT NOTICE: All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or dis-crimination based on race, col-or, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, sex, age or arrest conviction record or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Title 29, U.S. Code Chap 630, excludes the Federal Gov’t. from the age discrimination provisions. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for employment which is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that employment offerings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Help Wanted

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TheVillageofPoquottisacceptingresumestofilltheparttime positionofDeputyClerk. Flexibledays,10-12hoursper week.Agreatopportunityfor Poquottresidentslookingfora jobthatisconvenientandsupportsthecommunity. Interestedapplicantscane-mail tcioffi@villageofpoquott.com andincluderesumeifavailable PLEASESEEOURDISPLAY

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Career Services

Carpentry

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Editorial

Talking trash: Rethinking local control over solid waste disposal

Here on Long Island, local governments have been historically responsible for treating and disposing of solid waste. This dynamic is no longer workable.

Managing waste is among the most crucial functions of government. Without these services, untreated garbage would threaten the health and safety of our residents and endanger our local environment.

However, treating solid waste entails ever-increasing costs to dispose of the trash and keep up with the fast-paced regulatory climate. Those costs will only compound in the years to come.

In Port Jefferson, the village government is engaged in a messy permit dispute with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation over a small landfill it uses for branch and leaf pickup services. New DEC regulations targeting landfills have impacted Port Jeff’s kettle hole, entangling this small village in a much broader regulatory conflict.

The controversy may be affecting Port Jeff right now, but it will soon involve nearly every community on Long Island. Plans are underway to close the Brookhaven Town Landfill by 2024, which serves the entire region, precipitating a garbage crisis here on Long Island.

From these examples we are learning that solid waste treatment is not merely a local policy concern. It is integrated within a much larger context, affecting neighboring communities, regions and states.

Solid waste landfills, where much of our garbage is stored, are also significant emitters of greenhouse gases. These facilities may soon be prime targets for oversight and regulation under plans to curb the effects of climate change.

At TBR News Media, we are committed to the premise that local government is closest and, therefore, most accountable to the people. Local control gives residents a stake in what goes on within their community’s boundaries. But garbage is blind to these political distinctions and its hazardous effects often cross over these lines, impacting our neighbors. The problem is too grand for any one municipality to handle on its own.

Effective waste management is an increasingly regional, national and even global phenomenon. The situation calls for a coordinated and efficient response from these higher tiers of government.

Sustaining local control over waste management will soon come with a crippling price tag for municipalities and taxpayers alike. State and federal regulators will place heavy restrictions on the operators of solid waste landfills — local governments — passing the burden of cost and regulatory compliance onto these smaller governments.

Over time, municipalities will have to devote more resources and staff to their garbage, eating away at their budgets and diverting vital funds from other local programs and constituent services. All of this runs counter to the original idea of local autonomy.

Now is the right time for local governments to evaluate their involvement in waste management. Municipalities should seriously consider transitioning these duties to higher levels of government — such as counties or the state — with oversight from regional planning councils composed of delegates from our communities.

A consolidated waste management apparatus could be more efficient and less restrictive for small governments, freeing up money and attention for local matters within their control.

At the individual level, we must also take steps to limit our impact on landfills. On Long Island, we don’t even have reliable measures of recycling rates, let alone a plan to bring those levels up. Furthermore, many ordinary household items have the potential for reuse. Residents should take advantage of special recycling events that assign these items a reuse value.

While policymakers work out the nuances of an integrated waste management hierarchy, we can do our part to limit our contribution to solid waste landfills. These complex problems may find meaningful solutions if governments and citizens act responsibly.

Letters to the editor

Perspective on a perspective

My perspective regarding the Perspective by a “progressive” which appeared in the Nov. 17 issue of The Village Times Herald [“Reflecting on the midterm elections” by Shoshana Hershkowitz] is diametrically opposite of what was stated, with the exception of the writer’s statement regarding state Assemblyman Steve Englebright [D-Setauket].

I, too, was shocked to learn that he will no longer represent our district. I’ve always considered Steve to be a friend, and I’ve known him since before he was a politician — and that’s a long time). His dedicated service to the public at large in our district, and all of the organizations within it, has been remarkable, and he will be sorely missed. With that being said, I strongly disagree with the lumping of our local representatives with the insanely radical woke leftists of the national Democratic Party. The actions and integrity of the two groups should indicate that they are two different parties, not one and the same.

The aforementioned writer’s perspective regarding “fear, dishonesty and racism” prevailing is way off base. Does she gather her points of view from the “lamestream” media? And her habitually abhorrent diatribes against Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY1) are without substance. She mentions that his position on “gun safety would be harmful to this state.” Really? Gun safety? It was taught in some schools in the 1950s, when we didn’t have today’s rampant criminal activity due to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s [D] revolvingdoor policy of releasing violent criminals to inflict more crimes. While the writer is “relieved” that Hochul defeated Zeldin, it seems the writer has no recollection during their debate of Zeldin’s question regarding crime, to which Hochul responded, “Why is that an issue?”

With regard to “Zeldin’s position” on “reproductive rights,” what does the writer mean when stating, “Women are vulnerable, with their reproductive rights under attack”? In New York state a human life can still be murdered in the womb. And, to some politicians like Hochul, it’s also OK to release repeat criminals who may murder innocent victims.

And, oh yes, the writer mentions “free and fair elections.” I would need more than a full page to remark on that comment. She may refer to many Americans as election deniers. If so,

I would refer to her and her ilk as corruption deniers.

“As a prime Democratic voter,” she goes on to say what she wants. Ay, there’s the rub — in the words of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” How could she possibly get what she wants “as a prime Democratic voter?” The rapidly failing and deteriorating cities in America have been under Democratic control for generations.

What the writer fails to realize is that today’s “Socialist”(former Democratic) Party is not the same as her greatgrandfather’s Democratic Party. She wants, in her Perspective piece, “to fight the good fight” for her “children’s generation, who deserve to inherit a better world.” I don’t foresee, however, that repeating the same mistakes will make this “a better world.” So, I will continue to fight the good fight of taking a commonsense approach to a “better world” for her children and grandchildren — and mine.

Art Billadello East Setauket

The hypocrisy of Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard is a mostly white, progressive and liberal island, frequented by some of America’s richest and most powerful people. On Sept. 14, 50 Venezuelan asylum seekers landed on this beautiful island. They were greeted warmly, provided everything needed to be comfortable and sustain themselves, as well as being provided with Spanish translators by the local high school students who were taking Spanish. However, from the time they arrived, plans were already in the works to hastily remove them from the island in less than 44 hours. For the residential islanders who claim to embrace, love and accept everyone from all walks of life their act of hypocrisy was unjustifiable, but seemingly appropriate for these year-round residents enacting their modus operandi.

First off, as far as housing, there were a multitude of empty rooms available in hotels, B&Bs, etc., since this was the beginning of off season for recreational visitors. Secondly, Martha’s Vineyard offers Wheels on Meals to those in need of nutritious and healthy food. Thirdly, Martha’s Vineyard has what is called the WIC program (women, infants and children), which offers free nutrition programs, healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and other necessary programs to make their lives on the island sustainable.

Thirdly, as far as employment, the Indeed jobsite at that time had the following jobs available: line cooks, gatekeepers, housemaids, babysitters, drivers, dishwashers, cleaning associates, delivery drivers, gardeners, kennel assistants, etc.

These people are coming here with their families to provide a better life for themselves. Certainly, the islanders of Martha’s Vineyard could have been a little more creative and helpful in assisting these asylum seekers with opportunities. By that I mean accepting them and assimilating them into their community with passion and opportunity.

I truly hope this is not a generic personification of others, whether they be Republicans, Democrats, general progressives or those actually affiliated with the Suffolk progressive group and liberals who talk out of both side of their mouths, so they fit in and are admired by others in their club’s ideology.

America has always been a melting pot of immigrants. That is what made us so great. There is nothing wrong with being vetted and coming and living in this country legally. Many of our parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents followed this path and flourished on their own as well as with help from others. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Just do it right and not senselessly, as we have seen on Martha’s Vineyard.

Rhoda Angelier Coram

County comptroller thanks electorate

I write to thank all the voters who came out this 2022 election cycle and exercised the most important duty of our American democracy, the casting of votes. I am humbled and honored to be returned to the office of comptroller for a third term. The confidence that the electorate has placed in my ability to serve as Suffolk County’s chief fiscal officer is reassuring as we pursue a course of continued improved financial efficacy, as well as continuing to aggressively perform audits to stamp out fraud, waste and abuse.

As always, my office stands ready to assist. Please call at 631-853-5040, and do not hesitate to report concerns to the comptroller’s fraud hotline at 631-853-5018, or email fraudhotline@ suffolkcountyny.gov.

John M. Kennedy Jr. Suffolk County Comptroller

The opinions of columnists and letter writers are their own. They do not speak for the newspaper.

Dropping unwanted baggage makes it easier to move ahead

As we reach the beginning of December, we are only a month away from the inevitable promises to shed unwanted pounds.

Today, however, only a few days after our journeys to visit friends and families for Thanksgiving, I’d like to urge you to consider shedding unwanted baggage.

answer on which we received no credit.

Some of that baggage is constructive, giving us the tools and the memory to learn from our mistakes and to have a perspective on the things that happen to us.

mindlessly eat and a dedication to exercise.

But how do we get rid of the emotional baggage that gets in our way? What do we do to move forward when the burdens around us weigh us down?

Believing the best about ourselves is difficult.

We might, for example, learn to cope with losses on the athletic field more gracefully when recalling how we felt the time we shouted at a coach, an umpire or an opposing player. Days, weeks, or years later, we might realize that we have the tools and the distance to understand the moment better and to develop a grace we might not have possessed when we were younger.

For starters, we might learn to forgive people for whatever they did that annoys or puts us down. Forgiveness isn’t easy, of course. We sometimes hold onto those slights as if they are a part of our identity, becoming a doctor to show our biology teacher who didn’t believe in us that we are capable and competent or developing into a trained athlete after a neighbor insulted us.

We also don’t, and won’t, always win. It’s easier to carry the memories of the times we failed a test or when we didn’t reach the top of the mountain on a hike. Carrying those setbacks around with us for anything other than motivation to try again or to go further than we did before makes it harder to succeed.

Metaphorically, we all lug unwanted baggage with us — remembering the spot where a girlfriend or boyfriend broke up with us; the moment we decided to substitute the wrong player in a game we were coaching; and the time our teacher gave someone else partial credit for the same

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

Extending the baggage metaphor, it seems that the more we carry with us everywhere, the harder it is to move forward. Baggage, like those unwanted pounds that make it harder to hike up a hill or to climb stairs, keeps us in place, preventing us from improving and moving forward.

Shedding pounds, which isn’t so easy itself, has a prescribed collection of patterns, often involving an attention to the foods we might

Tormented by letters and numbers

Holding onto those insults gives other people unnecessary power over us. We can and should set and achieve our goals because of what we want and not because we continue to overcome limits other people tried to set for us.

We also might feel weighed down by our own self-doubt. As I’ve told my children, their peers and many of their teammates, we shouldn’t help our competitors beat us.

Now is the time to set down that baggage, to walk, jog or even run forward, unencumbered by everything that might make us doubt ourselves and our abilities and that might make it harder to achieve our goals. While all that baggage might feel familiar in our hands, it also digs into our palms, twists our fingers and slows our feet.

Even before we resolve to eat better, to exercise, to lose weight and to look our best, let’s check or even cast aside our emotional and psychological luggage. Maybe dropping that baggage in the last month of the year will make achieving and keeping our New Year’s resolutions that much easier.

LEAH S. DUNAIEF

Here are three of my most feared words: what’s your password? I understand that passwords were designed to keep out the unwelcome in any digital circumstance. Early passwords worked for ATM machines. After all, we didn’t want anyone else to be able to get our money, right? OK, so that was four numbers that we could remember, certainly easier than committing our social security number to memory, for example. Not any longer do we enjoy such brevity. Now we are asked to use eight or 10 numbers and letters, the combinations of which must contain capitals, lower case, numbers and some other vital symbol, like an asterisk or a dollar sign or an

exclamation point. And we are admonished not to use the same password twice for fear of opening the gates to financial ruination. I would bet the fact is, though, that the only person kept at bay by the request for the password is the password holder who has forgotten the sacred assemblage of letters, numbers and pound signs.

Further, needing the password makes no sense since the frequently asked question, “Forgot your password? Press here to make another,” often allows anyone to bypass the gate anyway. All the intruder has to do is come up with a new password, and they are in.

Some passwords are useful. Certainly, we don’t want just anyone to access our banking records if we bank online. And if we pay for a service, like a subscription to a newspaper, we don’t want an undesignated person to share it. But some of the pass requirements are just plain stupid. Who else but me cares how many steps I walk per day? Or how much sleep I averaged over the past week?? Or how much I weigh? Almost as soon as I apply for an app, I have to select a password to use it,

even though the app is free.

Passwords are just one irritant of the digital age, however. As long as I am voicing my frustrations, let’s consider telephones and what has become of what was a perfectly helpful way to enter in conversation with another human. Just try to call an airline or an insurance company and see how long you are put on hold. Sometimes they will tell you that the operator will be with you in 28 minutes and ask if you would like them to hold your place in line and call you back. That’s civilized. Or the automated voice will try to shove you off to their website. But you cannot ask questions of a home page beyond the couple of programmed Q&As posted there.

When you finally get a person on the other end, after pressing any number of buttons, they will ask you to hold for the correct extension, which will ring and ring and finally disconnect you. Then you have to start all over.

I recognize that there is an attempt to have a paperless world. I understand that

companies are feeling pressured financially and are trying to cut down on personnel. But does the world have to get there by driving us to distraction first? Some technology is actually helpful. Instead of a password, some apps ask for fingerprint ID. Once you register with your thumb or whichever finger you choose, you need only to present that finger in the future, and you are immediately admitted. Why isn’t that more commonly used to authenticate the user? Or ask a personal question as the price of admission only the user would be able to answer, like the name of your junior high school or your first pet’s name. Sometimes I am asked two or three questions like that, but only after I have already offered my password. And usually it’s my mother’s maiden name, which by itself used to work but no longer. Not complicated enough, I guess.

One friend figured she had solved the password problem by putting all her passwords into one file on her cellphone. Only trouble? She has forgotten the file’s password.